Electrically heated necktie press



Oct. 16, 1934. l. A. LAKE 1,977,443

ELECTRICALLY HEATED NECKTIE PRESS Filed Nov. 24, 1931 INVENTOR [YW/7.9 f4 ,la/re,

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES ELECTRICALLY HEATED NECKTIE PRESS Irving A. Lake, Mount Vernon, N. Y.

Application November 24, 1931, Serial No. 577,000

5 Claims.

This invention relates to electrically heated necktie presses or restorers, and has for its object certain improvements in electrically heated necktie presses or restorers. The invention relates more particularly to certain improvements in the construction of handles for electrically heated necktie presses or restorers.

In the manufacture of electrically heated necktie presses or restorers, the various operations leading up to the nishedproduct should be such as to lend themselves to quantity production. This applies as well to the preparation of the finished necktie presses for shipment and distribution. An extension cord, containing lthe necessary electric wire leads, is employed in conjunction with the necktie press; one end of the cord being attached to the heat resistance element within the press, and the other orffree end of the extension cord being provided with an electric socket plug adapted for making connection Vwith a current supply source. In the customary practice, the cord extends longitudinally through the interior ofthe press handle. During the building-up ofthe necktie press, two

.. superposed handle portions are ordinarily riveted face to face. This operation, unless extreme precautions are taken, tends to ruin the insulation provided around the extension cord, and thus exposes the lead wires tocontact with one another; producing a short circuit. Considerable labor, under quantity production, is also involved in wrapping the extension cords about the presses for purposes of shipment.

The present invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of electrically heated necktie presses or restorers that for the most part avoid the difiiculties just discussed in the manufacture of such devices. A construction is contemplated that lends itself to the making of the presses or restorers in large numbers economically and in the manner to avoid short circuits.

According to the present invention, separately spaced slots are provided in the handles of an 1 electrically heated necktie press adapted for the insertion of an electric plug. The handle portion preferably consists of two flat members attached to one another face-to-face in spaced relationship, the spaced slots extending completely through the flat members; and the slots in each member opposing one another in registered relationship. The hat members are spaced from one another by means of inwardly protruding and abutting shoulders or burrs, fastening means being provided through the abutting (Cl. 21B-21) shoulders or burrs for holding the handle memn i bers permanently together.

These and other features of the present invention will undoubtedly be better understood if reference is made to the accompanying drawing, taken in conjunction with the following description, in which:

Fig. 1 is a full length plan view, partly in section, of an assembled electrically heated necktie press or restorer illustrative of a practice of the invention, in which an electric socket plug is shown in position in the handle of the press or restorer;

Fig. 2 is a full length plan View of the device shown in Fig. l, but with the electric socket plug shown removed from the handle;

Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the device shown inFigs. l and 2; x

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The electrically heated necktie press or restorer shown comprises a tongue 10, preferably tapered, as indicated; and to which is attached a handle 11. An insulated extension cord 12 extends lengthwise through the longitudinal center of the handle; and the two wire leads in the cord are attached at one end with a coiled electric heat resistance element 13, loosely supported or mounted within the folds of the heat-resistant sheet-material 14.

The tapered tongue portion comprises a lower smooth flat sheet metal element 15, the outer edges 16 of which bend over to receive the outer edges 17 of an arched upper sheet metal element 18. The sheet metal may advantageously consist of thin aluminum or other suitable sheet metal. A metal should be selected that is substantially rust-proof, and which may be made to retain a substantially smooth outer surface. Due to the arched nature of the upper sheet 18, a hollow interior 19 is provided Within the tongue in which to insert the electric resistance element and. its mounting.

The heat-resistant sheet-material element 14 extends lengthwise of the interior of the hollow portion of the tongue. This material, referring for the moment to Fig. l, may advantageously consist of a single sheet, opposite side portions of which are provided with reversed folds 20 to give three thicknesses of material. The inside edges of the folded portions are disposed immediately adjacent or near one another. Spaces are provided on the inside of the folded portions, adapted to receive the electric heat resistance element 13, and thus keep it out of contact with metal portions of the tongue. The ends of the electric heat resistance element communicate with the ends of the insulated wires within the extension cord 12. Due to the rigidity offered by the insulated wires held in position in the handle portion 11, the lower end of the heat-resistant sheet-material element 14 is kept in a substantially fixed position. Y

Further inspection of Fig. 1 will show how the folds of the heat-resistant sheet-material encompass the electric resistance wire coil 13 to keep the coil out of contact with the metal elements 15 and 18 of the tongue, and to keep the coil out of contact with itself. It will also be noticed that when the coil is mounted within the folds, the fold portions tend to contact with the inside faces of the tongue. This construction helps to give rigidity to the entire interior mounting, while at the same time offering the desired protection againstshort circuits.

The handle portion 11 advantageously consists of vtwo stamped or cut superposedsheet fiber handle portions 21 and 22,so separated from one another as to provide a space 23 adapted to receive and retain the insulated extension cord 12. These superposed handle portions are provided with inwardly protruding and abutting shoulders or burrs 24 and` 25, respectively. The shoulders or burrs are formed by punching countersunk holes 26 through the soft fiber handle portions. Due .to the countersunk depressions in the faces of the flat handle members, protruding shoulders or burrs may bemade to abut against one'another, in such manner that the holes in oppositely spaced handle members register with one another. Means 27, such as hollow rivets, are provided through the holesandburrs to attach the handles.` `The rivets employed may be so bent as to provide ends flush with the faces of the handle.

In the construction shown, two suchl countersunk holes are shown provided in the handle of the necktie press at or near its extreme end. At the other` end of the handle, similar hollow rivets.

' 28 and 29 are shown extending completelythrough the bottom sheet element 15,V the top sheet element 18 and the two inserted superposed handleportions 21 and 22. While inwardly protruding shoulders or burrs may be used at this point, I have found that it is unnecessary, and in fact best not, to keep the fiber handle members spaced; so that .the interior of the tongue 10 maybe more completely sealed.

An electric socket plugV 29, preferably of the conventionaltype, with extending and spaced terminals 30 and 31, adapted for insertion in an electric socket isattached to the far end of the extension cord 12. Spaced slots 32 and 33, adapted to receive the terminals 30 and 31 in a fairly snug manner, are provided completely through the spaced fiber handle members21 and 22 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 5). These slots are arranged to straddle the extension cord 12 between the handle members. When the tie press is not being used, the plug 29 may be inserted in the handle as more particularly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5. In this position, the extension cord 12 is doubled, as shown in Fig. 1; and it may be quickly wrapped around the handle 11, or it may be simply folded, after which the press is inserted in a box for shipment. The user of the necktie press,'on the other hand, may 'insert the plug as shown, and hang the extension cord over a suitable hanger in a closet or some other suitable out-of-the-way place. This type of construction is particularly useful both to the manufacturer and the user, in that it offers a quick and easy way of handling l an extension cord that is otherwise cumbersomely long.

I claim:

1. A handle for an electrical device comprising two substantially parallel body members provided with aligned slots for thereception of the prongsof an electricalvpower plug, said plug being attached to the loose end of a cable having its other end operatively attached to the handle.

2. A handle for an electrical device comprising an electrical cable longitudinally disposed be tween two substantially parallel laminar members and extending beyond to an electrical power plug, said members being slotted to receivethe prongs of said power plug when-it is not connected to a source of electric current.

3. A handle consisting of a pair of 4superposed and spaced members andan extension cord extending lengthwise of the handle within the space between the superposed members, said members being spaced from 'one another by means of inwardly protruding and abutting burrs and haV- ing spaced slotsextending through the members adapted forthe. insertion of the terminals of an electric socket plug. Y f l 4.v A handle consisting of a pair ofY superposed and spaced members and an extension cord extending lengthwise of the handle within the space between the superposed members, said members being spaced from one another by means of inwardly protruding and :abutting burrs and having slots extending through the members, that are spaced laterally from the enclosed extension card and adapted for the insertion cf the terminals of an electric socket plug.

5. An improved handle consisting of a pair of superposed and spaced, members, an extension cord extending lengthwiseof the handle within the space between the superposedmembers and an electric socketl plug attached to the free end of the extension cord, said members being spaced from one another'by inwardly protruding and abutting burrs and having spaced slots extending through the members adapted for the nsertion of the terminals of the electric socket plug.

IRVING A. LAKE. 

